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Yes....with superstition...or good luck charms. . .or what ever is going to get you to have a GREAT 2013!

So it just might be another day to you, but it marks the start of a new year, a new chance to give things a fresh start. **knocking on wood** I have a pretty good life, and yes, I knocked on wood when I typed that. AND yes, I am very superstitious.

As a matter of fact, I wrote an entire novel based around superstition in my Grandberry Falls novel, Never Tell Your Dreams. The full title was going to be Never Tell Your Dreams Before Breakfast, but that was entirely too long for the cover.

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Regardless, I could go on and on about all the superstitious things I do but I'll save that for another day. I do want to talk about what my guys and I do to ring in the new year that gives us that little extra push for a GREAT year!

First off, on New Year's Eve, we eat oranges. Lots of oranges! AND we don't throw away the peel. Then we clea…

I'm very excited to end our TWELVE days of Christmas (okay. . . more like FOURTEEN DAYS!) with author LK Gardner-Griffie! Be sure to leave a comment for a free ecopy of Misfit McCabe! The winner will be announced at the end of the blog on Friday!

A Gift Remembered
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always up for a celebration—whether it be a step forward, overcoming a hurdle, or simply a glorious day. There’s enough in this life that is ugly and hurtful, so I want to make sure I’m searching for the bright side of things. Which also makes the holiday season special for me because there is so much to celebrate and it puts my focus back on the things that are important—friends, family, and giving to others.

Several years ago, I was given a gift I will never forget. At the time, I taught in a preschool and loved every minute. I tended to work best with the kids who had “behavior problems” so I had more than my share of the difficult kids. Kelly started late in the year. Her mom had m…

Happy Christmas EVE and to the Thirteenth day of TWELVE Days of giveaways! Yes. . .thirteen! And I'm excited to have author Karen Cantwell take us into Christmas Day with her rendition of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas! Be sure to leave a comment to be eligible to win an ebook copy of Karen's new novel, Saturday Night Cleaver! The winner will be posted at the end of tomorrow's blog post!

'Tis the Night Before
ChristmasA Barbara Marr spin on
a classic
'Tis the night before Christmas, and all through the house,
every creature is stirring, even the mouse (trapped in the corner by our cats
Indiana Jones and Mildred Pierce).
The stockings are hung from the banister (our chimney mantle
fell during the last earthquake...) with care, in hopes that Barb and Howard
St. Nicholas, soon will be there.
The children simply will not go to their beds,
Six-year-old Amber is howling that she's been misled;
"You told me Santa was real!" she sings her sad
song.
&quo…

Please give a big ole WELCOME to author Talli Roland! I absolutely love her books and HUMOR! You will too!! The Holidays brings a lot of stress and NON exercise. But while with the family or if you are a writer (who doesn't take off for the holidays), it's important to stay fit and not put on those extra POUNDS!! Be sure to leave a comment to win an ebook copy of her award winning short story MISTLETOE IN MANHATTAN! The winner will be announced at the end of tomorrow's guest post! How to Keep Fit During the Holiday Season… Without Leaving Your Desk

The festive season is a challenging time for sedentary writers. Not only do we have deadlines to meet, but there is plenty of yummy food around to eat! To combat the threat of an ever-expanding butt, I’ve developed a handy set of exercises for writers. No need to embrace the great outdoors – or even get off your chair. Now, you too can have the svelte frame of a commuter, without the commute. Are you ready? Here we go!

I'm soooo excited to feature AUTHOR STACEY JOY NETZEL on my Twelve Days of Giveaways!! This is a special blog where Stacey is paying it forward for the holidays!!! Be sure to leave a comment for you free ecopy of MISTLETOE MATCH-UP!! Be sure to go out and buy your copy or gift a copy of MISTLETOE MAGIC! The winner will be announced at the end of tomorrow's blog post!
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My new author tradition is to pick one of my Christmas books and
donate 100% of my December royalties from that book to someone or
somewhere that could use the help. Last year I donated $300.00 from sales of Dragonfly
Dreams, and this year I'll be donating much more.
This year's book is MISTLETOE MAGIC. It's Book
2 in my Romancing Wisconsin series, and since my heroine runs
a no-kill animal shelter, the recipient of my Dec. royalties is a local
Wisconsin shelter; Happily Ever
After Animal Sanctuary, Inc. Major Mark Riley plays Cour…

Happy Friday! Today I'm excited to have mystery writer, Barbara Silkstone on our TENTH day of giveaways! Not only is she a great women's sleuth, she's funny! Be sure to leave a comment to be eligible to win a free ebook copy of her novel, London Broil! The winner will be announced at the end of tomorrow's blog.

Marbles in
the Medicine Chest My second
ex-husband or “Double-X” came equipped with a best friend, Andrew. They were two
peas in a pod. Frick & Frack. Joined at the hip. Andrew owned a chain of
jewelry stores but never spent any time there. He and Double-X would water-ski
eighteen hours a day using my house as a mini Club Med. Double-X and I had been
married less than a year. I was still sensitive to his tender male ego and
worried about making him feel less than manly by forcing him to live in my house on the bay. His friends descended
on Friday and left on Sunday night. I reluctantly welcomed the gypsy troop of
wandering water-skiers, but there was something…

Please welcome Cheryl Shireman to the NINE DAY! Be sure to leave a comment to be eligible to win an ecopy of Cheryl's novel, COPPER MOON! The winner will be announced at the end of tomorrow's blog.
Christmas Tree Sap
There we are, my parents and me, looking for a
Christmas tree. I am ten, a skinny girl with waist-length hair (rarely
brushed), and all legs and arms. I’m wearing last year’s coat and the sleeves
are too short. There is snow on the ground. My feet are cold because I’ve
forgotten to wear my boots.
We crunch through the gas station parking lot,
circling the various spruce and pine trees that they have trucked in to sell.
It is Saturday morning and everyone in Northern Indiana seems to be intent on
buying a tree on that particular day. My Dad is a long-distance truck driver.
If we don’t buy a tree today, I know we won’t shop again until next weekend
because he has a load ready to take to Shreveport. I am optimistic. We will
find a tree today and it will be perfect!
…

This is a real TREAT today! Claude Bouchard has written an amazing cookbook with a GREAT title....but don't let it fool you! Be sure to leave a comment to win your free ebook copy of SOMETHING'S COOKING! About
the origin of Something’s Cooking: It
started as a joke during an online chat with a group of writer friends as we
were discussing the popularity of romance, erotica and cookbooks on some Amazon
top lists. The discussion ended but the thought lingered so I figured,
"Why not?" I proceeded to select ten recipes I'd made countless times
before and, under the pseudonyms, Réal E. Hotte and Dasha Sugah, wrote ten
corresponding faux-erotica short stories. It should be noted that each story
contains explicit cooking activities which may suggest erotica but never once
does anyone actually ‘get it on’. What follows is the final short story and
recipe from Something’s Cooking. Bon
appétit!

I
Want Something Rich and Creamy to Pleasure Myself The tall hunk walked into Mon…